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GELC Ice Breaker Tournament
Key Note Speaker
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
As a thank you for your dedication and commitment to our female athletes, and as part of our continued support of the Game Her Way initiative and keeping girls in lacrosse, we are excited to invite you to a special Keynote Speaker Event.
Our guest speaker, Mike Cann, a highly accomplished and respected high-performance coach from Cochrane AB, will share insights on one of the most important topics in sport today—how to build strong team culture while maintaining a competitive environment that is fun, engaging, and keeps athletes in the game.
Event Details:
Coaches' Lounge - South Soccer Centre
May 2
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
This session will focus on:
- Building positive and sustainable team culture
- Balancing competitiveness and athlete enjoyment
- Supporting long-term athlete retention, especially for girls in sport
Coaches in attendance will receive:
A Coach Gift
Entry into a Grand Prize Draw ($250 value)
Snacks and refreshments
Our goal is to continue supporting our coaches and building capacity within our leadership group to ensure we are creating environments where athletes—especially girls—feel confident, connected, and excited to keep playing.
We understand that the timing may conflict with game schedules. Unfortunately, with the number of teams participating in the tournament, we were unable to find a time that accommodated everyone. We hope you are able to attend if your schedule allows.
We truly appreciate everything you do for the game and for our athletes, and we hope to see you there.
Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 28th at 3:00pm. We hope that each team not playing can send one representative to this event. It is worth coming to!
See Below for more Information about Mike Cann:
With experience spanning grassroots to high-performance sport, Mike Cann understands what it takes to both build athletes—and keep them in the game.
Mike Cann is a highly respected coach and leader with extensive experience developing athletes across both grassroots and high-performance levels. Having worked with competitive programs and athletes, Mike has built a reputation for creating environments that support growth, confidence, and long-term success.
What sets him apart is his ability to bridge the gap between grassroots development and high-performance sport. He understands how to meet athletes where they are, while helping them progress and reach their potential. His coaching approach reflects a strong balance—encouraging athletes to compete, challenge themselves, and strive for excellence, while ensuring the experience remains positive, supportive, and, most importantly, fun.
Mike is deeply passionate about girls’ sport and has made a meaningful impact working with female athletes and teams. He is committed to creating environments where girls feel confident, connected, and excited to come to the rink—because when athletes enjoy the experience, they are far more likely to stay, compete, and succeed in sport.
As a keynote speaker, Mike will speak to one of the most important challenges in sport today: keeping girls in the game. Drawing on his experience, he will share how coaches and organizations can build team cultures that value both competition and connection—creating programs where athletes are motivated to improve, perform, and love being part of the team.
Mike brings authenticity, energy, and real-world insight to every presentation. His message resonates with coaches, leaders, and organizations looking to build stronger programs, support female athletes, and create environments where athletes can both compete and thrive.
